Darren Fichardt continues home dominance at Joburg Open

Closing 68 helps South African claim one-shot victory in rain-affected event

South Africa's Darren Fichardt held his nerve to win a fifth European Tour title and continue home dominance of the Joburg Open, which had been reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather.

Fichardt carded a closing 68 at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club to finish 15 under par, a shot ahead of England's Paul Waring and Welshman Stuart Manley.

Manley had birdied the final two holes to complete a third consecutive 67 and set a clubhouse target which looked like setting up a playoff after Fichardt dropped his first shot of the day on the 17th.

However, the 41-year-old from Pretoria then produced a superb pitch from just short of the 18th green to set up a certain birdie and when Waring’s birdie attempt agonisingly lipped out, Fichardt tapped in to become the eighth home winner in 11 editions of the event.

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The top three had the added bonus of sealing a place in the British Open at Royal Birkdale via the Open Qualifying Series, with James Morrison, Brandon Stone and Jacques Kruyswijk finishing in a tie for fourth.

Kruyswijk held the outright lead after his sixth birdie of the day on the 11th, only to run up a double bogey on the 14th after finding a water hazard with his second shot.

Ireland's Paul Dunne finished in a share of 23rd spot on nine under after carding a three-under 69 in his third and final round.